Chapter 4
It had been a while since they've scratched each others' backs. In bygone days, if Veronica ever needed info on Neptune's criminal underworld or simply wanted Madison Sinclair's convertible crushed into a cube, she knew who to call. In return, Veronica would get Eli Navarro out of tight jams. However, since Eli settled in court after all the hard work Keith, Cliff, and herself did for him, the thought of helping him made Veronica's mouth turn sour. It had been two months since she spoken to him.
"I need a favor, Veronica." The words seemed to echo around the room. There was an air of desperation in his voice when he spoke, "Please."
"Okay, I'll babysit the cutie-pie, but it's twenty dollars an hour and I only accept cash." Veronica stood with her arms crossed.
He took a deep breath and exhaled. "Look, I wouldn't ask..." Weevil glanced over his shoulder. Keith viewed the contents of a file on his desk, pretending not to eavesdrop.
After a stilted silence, Keith abruptly stood up. He picked up his leather briefcase and gravitated toward the glass door. "I'm gonna head out. See you tomorrow, hon." Keith paused before exiting. He had a look of concern plastered on his face. "Use your judgement."
"I always do. Bye, Dad." Once Keith left the office, Veronica's stern disposition changed. She relaxed her shoulders and sighed, "What is it?"
"One of my guys got busted for narcotics trafficking. I thought it was gonna be all over once the General took office."
Her lips formed a hard line. "So, you want me to try to prove his innocence?"
"No, he got what was coming to him. The problem is the Sheriff's office is trying to pin the entire operation on the PCHers. The recent stop-and frisks...they'll trying to catch anyone related. They're cracking the whip. They believe more were involved, but I've asked around; Gonzo acted alone to make some quick cash."
She remembered gazing over articles in Sunday's newspaper. Drug-related homicides. If Langdon was to keep office, Neptune's rich and powerful needed to see those involved crucified. Marcia Langdon's Cleaner Streets Initiative literally meant taking out the trash whether the person had a trust fund or not. Chasing the undesirables out of town was still a sport at the Sheriff's Department. It made Veronica cringe at the thought. It seemed, at the very least, arrests were made in both lower-income areas and in the 90909 zip code. Despite this, the crime rates were up.
Veronica had a flashback to her senior year in high school. "Have you all learn nothing from the Fitzpatricks fiasco?" Veronica picked up a pen and wrote a few things down on a notepad. She continued, "What exactly do you need me to do?" Veronica couldn't resist her curiosity even though her better judgement said to push Weevil out the door empty handed.
"Trust me, none of those guys would mix with that crowd again. But just the other day, a teenager from my neighborhood got charged with possession. I know the kid; he wouldn't be caught dead with it. But that jackass, Lyles, found a bag of heroin attached to the motorcycle. He ain't that stupid to leave junk in plain sight."
Family friend, Clifford McCormack and her dad had been steadily busy with work noting that a dozen or so of his clients claimed the sheriff department planted contraband on them last year. It's what got Lamb out of office and two of his deputies fired. It appeared Deputy Lyles still tampered with evidence right under Marcia's nose.
Langdon going after the biker gang? It was ballsy and entirely stupid. "If they got the cojones to strategically redistribute evidence after everything that's happened, it should make it easier to check on something like that. I'll tail some of the officers and try to catch them in the act." Once there was proof, Langdon would have no other reason to keep them.
"Thanks. I wouldn't mention it, but something big is going down soon. The guys are not gonna sit back and watch." The tensions between the classes were building up like water in a pot about to boil over. Marcia Langdon was in the middle of it, trying to mend both sides, but failing.
Veronica nodded her head solemnly. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
She peered out the window behind Keith's desk watching Weevil as he hopped back on his motorcycle. Just like her, he had a chance to move on and live a normal, quiet life. He got back his auto shop after the settlement and had a beautiful wife and kid, but the venal town of Neptune reeled him back into the fold time and time again. The two of them weren't built to stand on the sidelines not with the game rigged.
Veronica sauntered into the main room and plopped down on the thrift store couch across from Mac. She began rubbing her temples. "It's another day that ends with a Y."
Mac glanced up from her computer screens. "What did Weevil want?"
"Oh you know, the Sheriff's office is attempting to take down the criminal element. Mind checking Langdon's emails? I wouldn't be surprised if she changed her password again."
Mac hastily pressed a few keys. Two minutes later, she spoke, "It's back to Tauntaun."
It was futile; Marcia Langdon was streaky clean.
"One more thing, can you run a background check on Theo "Gonzo" Gonzalez and track past phone records?"
"That's cake. Anything else, Bond?"
"Speaking of cake," Veronica checked the clock on the wall. She had a meeting in a half hour with Katelyn Renner's right hand man, Lee Humphrey, at Java the Hut. "I should get going."
*x**x**x**x*
The coffee shop was packed for a Tuesday evening. The tables lined up against the wall by the Karaoke stage were all filled up. Blue paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling illuminated the place with a soft glow.
Lee Humphrey was lanky built, in his late-thirties, with pale, translucent skin that stretched over his bones. His face was splattered with freckles like a Jackson Pollock. His hair was natural, vibrant red-orange and parted slightly to the side. He dressed in a muted light green button-downed collared shirt, tapered khakis, and wore half-framed glasses. Veronica figured he was someone who listened to NPR and read critic reviews for fun.
Lee gave her a skeptical look as Veronica sat down in a chair across from him. "You must be that nagging reporter. You look familiar. Have I seen you before?" He took a sip of a latte he picked up next to an uneaten blueberry muffin on a yellow plate.
Appearing in newspaper articles after solving high-profile, well-publicized cases and having a semi-famous boyfriend, it was becoming harder for Veronica to go undercover in Neptune. She hoped with Lee Humphrey only visiting during the filming of the movie that he didn't pay to much attention to Neptune's daily news.
"I'm not sure." Veronica replied coolly. "Anyhow, I have a strict deadline to meet so thank you for your assistance."
"Let's get on with it." He said with vexation. Lee tapped the table a few times impatiently while Veronica got out her spiral notebook and a ballpoint pen.
"You're the first assistant director; what's that like?"
"I assist and consult Katelyn. I simply provide the link between everyone involve, co-coordinating all production activity and supervising the cast and crew. I created the film schedule so everything can run smoothly." He forced a smile. Lee had perfectly straight, ultra-white teeth; a dentist's wet dream. "Katelyn is lovely to work with and very talented."
"Where do you think Katelyn draws her inspiration from?"
"Her past experiences growing up in the suburbs of Arizona. All her films are heavily character driven."
"This is your second movie working with her. You must know her very well."
Lee rubbed his chin. "I consider her a colleague and a friend, yes."
"Does her personal life ever get in the way?"
"No," he responded firmly.
After a few pointless questions and simple one word answers from Lee, Veronica dropped the act. She kept direct eye contact with Lee. "Do you know Katelyn was having an affair with Connor Larkin?"
He flinched, taken aback. He stared at Veronica perplexed. "She what?"
"Mr. Humphrey, you said she confided in you in all aspects. You're her right hand man, so you must have known something."
"They were close friends. She wanted him to be in her new film. I'm not sure what you're getting at Miss..."
"Mars. I'm not actually with the Tribune. Marcie Jacobs hired me to find out what really happened to Connor Larkin the night of May 13th. I have recorded emails between Larkin and Renner and confirmation from other sources of their relationship. Alexander Webster believes Larkin could have been with Katelyn the night before his death."
"Who the hell is Alexander Webster? Connor Larkin's death was a tragic accident. It's been all over the news!" He stood up, his hands balled up in fists. "This is absurd. Katelyn has been too busy to have any resemblance of a social life. She has not seen Connor in ages. Overdoses are unfortunate no doubt." Lee took out his wallet to pay for his drink. He slammed two bills on the table. "This interview is officially over. Thank you for wasting my time." He added sarcastically. "And tell Marcie Jacobs to grieve and move on. Creating some conspiracy out of her ass is not going to bring him back."
He stormed out of the place faster than Barry Allen.
"Well that went fantastic." Veronica muttered to herself as she gathered up her things. Either Lee Humphrey was telling the truth or his over-reaction was masking the fact he knew exactly where Katelyn had been at the time. Veronica wasn't about to rule out any possibilities even if they did sound outlandish in her head.
*x**x**x**x*
She pulled up next to Logan's BMW at nine. Veronica snatched the keys from the ignition and slung them around her finger as she exited out of the garage. Most of the lights were still on in the house. She went straight to her office and dropped her bag by the desk. Veronica opened up a large drawer and took out her camera. She thought about first changing her clothes before going back out but opted against it.
Logan stood leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. Veronica had mentioned to him earlier during a phone call that she would follow Lyles while the deputy was on patrol for the night. "Want me to drive?" He announced capturing her attention.
Veronica's eyes shifted over to Logan. She titled her head with an expression on her face indicating, 'Really?' "I thought you hated stake outs?"
"If it means I get to spend time with you, I make exceptions." He smiled reassuringly. Logan also favored any opportunity to help validate any corruption within the Sheriff's Department which he detested as much as Veronica.
Lyles would be much less inclined to pull over a fancy BMW. "Lucky me," she beamed. Veronica took his hand and led the way back to the garage.
They drove through the commercial districts past bars and quaint little restaurants. Lyles stopped inside a sports pub known for its lax ID policy. A hot spot for high school jocks to meet up after games and practices. Veronica was more inclined to believe the deputy was there to drink on the job than to card anyone underage.
What felt like an hour just driving around parts of Neptune in a circle, the Crown Vic finally parked outside a recognizable place.
A silhouette of a girl lit up with lights on the sign that read vertically, The Seventh Veil. Logan pulled up to the corner and put the car in park.
He unhooked his seat-belt and pretended to get out of the car. "I'll just be a minute..."
Veronica grabbed his thigh. "You stay right here, mister. No lap dances for you." Logan frowned in mock disappointment. Veronica added, "So, Deputy Lyles likes to watch strippers wearing pasties while on the clock. Anyone could have assumed that."
"He probably can't get any without paying upfront first."
"Ew." Veronica's face scrunched in a stern pout. "This is a dead end. I'd have better luck near rest-stop 15."
"You want me to..."
Just then Veronica noticed in the rear-view mirror that eight or so bikers were coming up from behind. "Hmm, let's just go. You're not exactly PCHers' biggest fan."
"The Christmas cards get lost in the mail."
"Of course." Veronica brushed her lips against his. "Thanks, you made this night slightly more bearable."
*x**x**x**x*
The banquet hall was adorned with gold leaf wallpaper, white molding, and floral patterned carpet. Large vases of calla lilies were used as focal pieces. Round tables were draped in black cloth. At the front, tri-fold poster boards displayed photo collages of Leah Vance's life. Veronica scanned a few pictures of Leah as a child. There was one with a cute seven year old holding an inflatable microphone dressed as a princess and another slightly older version wearing a leotard and ballet slippers. The more recent photographs showed Leah Vance had model-good looks: tall, waif-like, fair-skinned. She had full lips, high cheek bones, a cute button nose, and long, wavy honey-brown hair. There was something unique about how her hazel eyes alone could convey so much emotion.
Browsing the place, Veronica's heart clenched tightly in her chest. It reminded her too much of Lilly Kane's reception. Family members huddled together with tissues and handkerchiefs in their hands. People associated with the local theater sat at a table together reminiscing all the plays they starred in together. Other slightly more famous friends and colleagues gravitated toward the open bar. Veronica brought Wallace as a date. He filled her in on Leah's time at Neptune High. She had graduated a year early to pursue her acting career. Leah had a lot of missing days in her final year, mid-2014, for a movie she was filming. Earlier in the day, Veronica had found that Leah's breakout film was 2013's W.O.S, a.k.a. Walk of Shame, featuring a young Miss Vance playing a freshman in college. From the pictures, Leah appeared older for her age or maybe it was the pounds of make-up enhancing her natural features. She still managed to pull off the innocent Taylor Swift look with ease. Leah Vance's most famous roles were in Beautiful Ruins, where she starred as a famous young actress who died in the very beginning and a teenage thief in The Forger.
After speaking to a couple of people, Veronica didn't want to stay much longer. She came to pay respects and uncover a few details of where Leah's mind-set had been the week before the accident. Wallace helped point out Deanna, Leah's best friend from Neptune High.
She waited for the girl to be alone before coming up to her. "Hi Deanna, right?"
The twenty-one year old in a black cardigan and slacks glanced up and down at Veronica. "Do I know you?" She whisked her blonde side bangs away from her eyes.
"No, I just wanted to say how sorry I am." Deanna was in the same position Veronica was in all those years ago. The best friend barely holding it together, keeping the world at arms length.
"Thank you. How did you know Leah?"
"I'm with the CAA. It came as such a shock."
"It did for everyone. We would talk and Skype almost every day and then like all of a sudden..." Deanna's eyes brimmed with tears. She started chewing on her bottom lip.
"What do you think made her do it? Did she seem depressed?"
Deanna, using all her strength, retained a straight face. "Even though she had a positive attitude, she, ah, always made herself stress like over every audition. She was a perfectionist. For her to use prescription drugs was so unlike her..." Deanna wiped away a tear off her cheek. "I'm sorry, what did you say your name was again?"
"I didn't." Before Veronica could leave, another woman in her late fifties walked up to them.
"Hello, I'm Rachel Vance, Leah's mother." Her voice was hoarse. "Deanna, would you mind getting everyone's attention. We're about to start."
Veronica smiled in acknowledgement. She felt a wave of emotion wash over her. It didn't sit right with her being there. "Excuse me." Veronica turned away discreetly and walked back to Wallace who had migrated to the bar and was chatting with a man in a dark suit. She gave him a look signaling it was time to go before the few speakers got up to the podium.
They quietly left without anyone noticing them. Once outside, Veronica took a deep breath of fresh air. It took work keeping her hard exterior from shattering.
*x**x**x**x*
Logan was out cold, exhausted from being at the base earlier. On the other hand, Veronica rustled the bed sheets, tossing and turning trying to fall asleep. She wasn't even sure what she was investigating anymore. If the deaths were related, California had a serial murderer who poisoned victims on the loose.
Staring up at the ceiling was too unproductive for the restless P.I. Now Thursday, the alarm clock read 12:56 am. Veronica grabbed her laptop from off the nightstand, turned it on, and waited for the screen to load.
Her email had a new notification. Sent nearly two hours ago, Veronica opened Mac's attachments. Sifting through the information, she found out that Gonzo had almost as many misdemeanors on his record as Weevil. He'd been arrested for petty theft, possession, and the intent to sell. He lived with his mother, Katia Orozco-Gonzalez and worked in construction. Theo married once and divorced within six months. Over in a blink of an eye like the flame that goes out after a kid finishes his wish and blows out his birthday candles.
If Gonzo sold more than just heroin or knew someone who did, it could explain how narcotics got into the hands of Connor and Leah.
Author's Note: Thank you for those who are enjoying my story as much as I am writing it! Since I can't post it here, check out the image on my profile page for how I envisioned Leah Vance to look like!